This is involved in the reaction to stress and how our genes are expressed.

It also has a key role in how our bodies respond to infection.

Practices like meditation reduce the levels of this stress-related molecule.

They also lower the levels of cytokines in the body — these are linked to inflammation at the cellular level.

Ms Ivana Buric, the study’s first author, said:

“Millions of people around the world already enjoy the health benefits of mind-body interventions like yoga or meditation, but what they perhaps don’t realise is that these benefits begin at a molecular level and can change the way our genetic code goes about its business.

These activities are leaving what we call a molecular signature in our cells, which reverses the effect that stress or anxiety would have on the body by changing how our genes are expressed.